5 ms·
Why use Telegram over something actually secure like Signal?
by ChristianBundy 9y ago
Why use Telegram over something actually secure like Signal?
- krick 9y agoSkipping discussion about "actual security": vendor lock-in & network effects. None of my peers uses Signal for everyday communication. Quite a few use Telegram, +Telegram channels & conferences, bots, and, well, honestly, it's really quite nice app to use. So, yeah. It's sad.
- zzzcpan 9y agoBut in fairness, you cannot really claim that Signal is actually secure just because it has a better encryption.
- krick 9y agoThat's why I chose to skip discussion about "actual security" in favor of answering the actual question somebody asked. I agree with your point completely.
- literallycancer 9y agoTrue. Then again, Telegram really has no encryption at all, since no one uses the secret chats. So he probably meant something like "why not use an app that actually tries to do what it claims to?".
- eitland 9y agoIt actually has encryption. Just not end-to-end by default.
- gtirloni 9y agoLike every other chat application, networks effects. I could switch to Signal today but I'd be talking to myself only.
- crtasm 9y agoIndeed, it's entirely possible to get some % of your contacts to install it though. Every little helps :-)
- eitland 9y agoI've nothing bad to say about Signal. If it supports all the same features I guess that would be a better choice as their crypto seems to be thoroughly verified. (Disclaimer: I am not a cryptographer.) Telegram just happen to be what my friends and family standardized on after WhatsApp failed on their stated mission.
- lowry 9y agoSignal asks for so many permissions that I am afraid Marvin is on the NSA hook.
- darkstar999 9y agoContacts, media, and phone. Basic functionality of a messaging app.
- avhon1 9y agoAccording to the link that /u/mintplant provided, Signal asks for a lot more permissions than that: • find accounts on the device • read your own contact card • modify your own contact card • read calendar events plus confidential information • add or modify calendar events and send email to guests without owners' knowledge • find accounts on the device • read your contacts • modify your contacts • approximate location (network-based) • precise location (GPS and network-based) • read your text messages (SMS or MMS) • receive text messages (MMS) • receive text messages (SMS) • send SMS messages • edit your text messages (SMS or MMS) • directly call phone numbers • reroute outgoing calls • read call log • read phone status and identity • read the contents of your USB storage • modify or delete the contents of your USB storage • take pictures and videos • record audio • view Wi-Fi connections • read phone status and identity • send WAP-PUSH-received broadcast • receive data from internet • view network connections • create accounts and set passwords • pair with Bluetooth devices • send sticky broadcast • change network connectivity • connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi • disable your screen lock • full network access • change your audio settings • read sync settings • run at startup • set wallpaper • use accounts on the device • control vibration • prevent device from sleeping • toggle sync on and off
- roryisok 9y agoI can't speak for others, but I use it because I wanted a WhatsApp alternative after they were bought by Facebook. At the time I don't think signal was available yet. Now there's a critical mass of family and friends using telegram and it's a lot harder to move to something else. Besides, your average end user probably doesn't care about FSB spying on them because they have "nothing to hide"
- fhars 9y agoI tried signal once, and it refused to even start without me allowing it to steal my address book.